Wednesday, November 25, 2015

‘Made in USA’ solar company sold Chinese panels

A Texas green-energy company that boasted it never took a dime in government subsidies will pay $8.5 million for misrepresenting the source of its solar panels.

Farmers Branch-based 1SolTech Inc. will pay $5.8 million in civil penalties and attorney’s fees, as well as more than $2.7 million in restitution to consumers, including the federal government.

The state attorney general’s office sued 1SolTech and the company’s three principals: Sandy Fardi, Hossein “Zak” Fardi and Ali Enrique Razavi. Under an agreed judgment filed in Travis County District Court, the defendants were ordered to stop misrepresenting the origins and certifications of their solar panels.

1SolTech claimed its products were manufactured in the United States, when they were actually imported from China. According to state investigators, the defendants labeled the panels with “Made in the USA” stickers and shipped the Chinese panels to buyers.

Among the customers was the U.S. government, which installed the panels on military bases and airports. American-made materials were required for the taxpayer-funded projects.